Control means for washing machine roll wringer mechanism



Feb. 20, 1934. A. w. ALTORFER CONTROL MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINE ROLL WRINGER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INEZ'EN TEE.

A'rris Feb. 20, 1934. A w, ALTORFER 1,947,576

CONTROL MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINE ROLL WRINGER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FTE-EL.

H INYENTEIE- Feb. 20, 1934. w. ALTQFER 1,947,576

CONTROL MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINE ROLL WRINGER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [III I] J 3 3 5 K3? IHYEKIE'JR- W W BY WW Ari-Y's Patented Feb. 20, 1934 PATENT-1 OFFICE CONTROL MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINE ROLL WRINGER MECHANISM Alpheus W. Altorfer, Peoria, 111.

Application September 14, 1932 Serial No. 633,097

10 Claims.

This invention relates to control means for washing machine roll wringer mechanism.

The main object of the invention is to provide a control means for washing machine roll wringers, whereby any manual operation of the clutching mechanism is obviated and the operator by applying the slightest touch and without exerting any substantial eifort, may set into operation driving mechanism for actuating the clutch, thus controlling the activity of the wringer.

Another object lies in the provision of accessiblecontrol means for a clutch mounted upon the horizontal shaft of a roll wringing mechanism, said clutch controlling the activity of said roll wringing mechanism and additional power op- 252 a member operated by the slightest pressure of the operator.

A further object is in the provision of a control means for wringers, including a clutch mounted on the horizontal driving shaft controlling the movement of the wringer rolls, a power operated clutch, control means mounted on the vertical drive shaft for the wringer and a member adapted to control the operation of said power operated means by the slightest pressure.

The invention described herein relates more particularly to control and operation of power driven roll wringers, such as might be generally used in connection with domestic washing machines.

The drawings will indicate that a complete washing wringing unit embodying this invention may consist of a tub and associated washing mechanism, together with a suitable power source such as an electric motor. Mounted upon the common supporting structure and adapted to be operated by power from the common motor through means to be described in detail, is a wringer of suitable design, the whole forming a complete self contained washing unit.

A practicable form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a complete washing -wringing unit embodying the present invention with certain parts shown in section to facilitate description;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the driving and control mechanism, the clutch being shown in its declutched position;

Fig. 3 is a view taken in direction of arrows on line 3-3 of F18. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view in plan, similar to parts shown in Figs. 3 and 5, illustrating the lever parts in operative position to be described;

Fig. '7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows on line 77 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Sincethe tub, associated washing apparatus or wringer unit does not form a part of the invention, it is thought sufllcient to describe them briefly as follows:

Referring to the drawings, a tub 10 is supported upon a base portion and conventional legs 11. Supported by and beneath the base structure is shown an electric motor 12, which latter is adapted, through suitable mechanism, to operate the washing devices and also, through suitable transmission mechanism, to rotate a vertical shaft 13 which latter is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings within a housing 14 supported by an extension of the tub baseportion as at 15. The shaft 13 will be referred to later.

The wringer unit, supported as shown in Fig. 1, the supporting means to be described later, is composed of roller members 45 and 46 suitably supported in resilient contact in" bearings located in the end frame members 61, as shown in Fig. 2. The said frame members are joined by connecting members 61a and 61b as shown. The contact pressure of the rolls is applied or relieved through suitable mechanism, by mani ulation of a hand lever 62.

A structural connecting tube 16 is rigidly attached, at its lower end, within a boss portion 17 projecting upwardly from the lower housing 14. At its upper end the said tube is rigidly attached within a boss portion 18a depending from a base member 18, which latter is rigidly attached to an extension of the top cover frame 19, all as clearly shown in section in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the base member 18 has a flanged upper portion, of circular form, which carries a plurality of recesses upon its outer rim or circumference as 1811 in Fig. 8. The purpose of the recesses will be explained later.

Concentric within the outer rim of base member 18 is a finished annular shouldered portion 180 rotatably seated, upon which is a superbase member 20 having a flanged portion 'as 20, a downward depending boss portion 20b and a boss portion extending upwardly from the flanged portion 20a. all as clearly shown in section in Fig. 2.

The under surface of the near central part of flange portion 20a is finished in a manner adapting it to rest and rotate freely upon shoulder 180. The boss portion 20b is rotatably fitted within the extension 18a, as shown, the whole being adapted to rotatably support the entire superstructure, inclusive of frame member housings, wringer and associated mechanism.

Fig. 2 will disclose a supporting member 21 which integrally includes frame bearing and housing portions to be referred to later. The lowermost portion of said member 21 is so formed as to adapt it to be fixedly attached about the periphery of flange 20a'by means of screws and inwardly extending lugs21b as shown.

The wringer unit is aflixed, as shown, to an offset extension of frame 21, by means of bolts,

From the foregoing it will be obvious that'the entire wringer head assembly is supported by and adapted to rotate in a horizontal plane freely upon the base member 20. It will also be clear that the assembly may easily be detached from the base member 18 by a short vertical lift.

Means for locking the wringer head assembly in various positions in its plane of rotation is provided by a hand lever 56, pivotally supported by means of a pin 58 between bracket extensions 57 which latter are integral with the lower housing portion of frame member 21, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Lever 56 has an upper extension adapted to be operated manually, while the opposite extremity 56a is so formed and disposed as to engage in the recesses 18b, already noted, and urged thereto by a spring 59, suitably retained, as shown, between the body of frame member 21 and lever 56. It will be apparent that manipulation of hand lever 56 will withdraw the locking portion 56a from a recess as 1827, after which the wringer assembly may be rotated to a desired position. Release of the lever will allow locking portion 56a to engage the nearest recess to lock the assembly against further rotation.

Mention has already been made of a vertical shaft 13 as adapted to be rotated by the washing machine power source.

The upper end of this shaft is rotatably supported and housed within the tube 16, a slotted head member 19 fixedly attached to shaft 13 acting as a guide to retain the said shaft centrally within tube 16.

In axial alignment with shaft 13 and extending upwardly therefrom is a shaft 22 having its lower end flattened to. adapt it to movably fit within the slotted portion of head member 19 already mentioned. The method of coupling shafts 16 and 22 facilitates removal of the wringer head assembly by a vertical lift, as already noted.

Shaft 22 is rotatably supported within the super base member 20 and is retained against downward vertical movement by a ratchet member 23, affixed to shaft 22 by means of a pin, as shown. The boss or hub portion of ratchet 23 forms an annular bearing with the upwardly extending boss portion of super-base member 20, as shown.

Directly above ratchet 23 is a femaleclutch member 24 afiixed to the upper end of shaft 22 by means of a pin as shown; A downward depending boss portion of the said clutch member 24 is finished concentrically with the axial center of shaft 22, as 24a.

Rotatably mounted upon the depending boss portion 24a is a cam member 25, having a hub portion 25a extending upwardly from a baseor disk portion 25?), as shown.

Integral with disk portion 25b is an upwardly extending flange portion 250 of circular form and disposed ofi center with relation to the axis of shaft '22. The bore and axial .length of the hub portion 25a are so dimensioned as to rotate freely upon the boss extension of clutch member 24 and betweenthe under surface thereof. and the upper surface of ratchet member 23. Thus, the member 25 may rotate in unison with ratchet 23 and clutch member 24, as driven by the shaft 22, or may be retained against rotationwhile the above members are in rotation. The operating functions of this member 25 will be explained later.

Mention has already been made of the female clutch member 24 as being fixedly attached to the upper end of shaft 22. Resting within the outer flange portion of clutch member 24 is a male clutch member 26 having the outer surface of its rim formed to complement the inner surface of the. flanged rim of the member 24. The clutch member 26 is slidably keyed to a vertical shaft 28 by means of a feather key 27 and is retained in frictional contact with member 2% by a compression spring 29, the latter disposed as shown reacting between the stationary housing 21 and clutch member 26, as shown.

The vertical shaft 23 is rotatably supported. in axial alignment with. the shafts 13 and 22 by a bearing 30, formed integrally with housing 21, as shown, being retained therein by a mitre gear 31 which is affixed to its upper end, as shown. 116.)

It is thought that the foregoing description will illustrate that the driven shaft 13 will impart rotation to the gear 31 through the slotted coupling between head member 13 and shaft 22, friction coupling between clutch members 24 and 26, and shaft 30, also that the weight of shaft 22 and attached parts, together with the pressure induced by spring 23, already noted, is supported by the depending boss portion of ratchet 23 bearing upon the upwardly extending boss portion of super-base portion 20.

The weight of shaft 28, together with gear 31 is obviously supported by the hub portion of gear 31, resting upon a suitably faced portion of housing 21.

Rotation of gear 31 is transmitted to the wringer mechanism through an assembly consisting of a horizontal shaft 34 rotatably mounted in bearings formed in the body of the housing 21 as shown in Figs. 2 and 2.

Rotatably supported upon shaft 34, and disposed in mesh on opposite sides of gear 31 are two mitre gears 32 and 33, each having an in wardly projecting lug as 32a and 33a, the same being integral with the body of the gears.

Disposed between gears 32 and 33 is a clutch member 35 having outwardly projecting lugs 35 and 35b disposed on either side, and a continuous groove formed between flange portions 350, as shown. The clutch member is slidably keyed to shaft 34 by means of a key 36 and is thus adapted to be shifted to right or left to engage lug 35s with lug 32a of gear32 or lug 35b with lug 33a of gear 33.

Since the gears 32 and 33 are disposed on opposite sides of gear 31 it is obvious that rotation. of gear 31'wi1l impart rotation to gears 32 and 33 in opposite directions.

It will be clear that with clutch member 35 positioned intermediate the gears 33 and 32, said 150 gears will rotate idly upon shaft 34, while if clutch member is shifted toward gear 32 lug 32a of gear 32 will engage lug 35a of clutch 35 imparting rotation to clutch 35 and to shaft 34 through key 36.

Rotation of shaft 34 in the opposite direction would result from a shift in the opposite direction of clutch 35.

Manual control of directional rotation of shaft 34 is accomplished through a hand lever 37 which is aflixed to a stem portion of a rotatable member 38, said stem projecting upwardly through an inwardly depending boss portion 211) which is integral with a cap member 21a, the latter being aflixed'to the frame housing member 21 by means of screws, as shown in Fig. 1.

Projecting downwardly from the lower shouldered portion of rotatable member 38 is a pin 41 disposed off center with relation to the axial center of said member 38. Rotatably retained upon the pin 41 is a block member 42 which is disposed and adapted to slide freely in the central groove of clutch member 35. The pin 42 being oflset from' the axial center of member 38, it is obvious that rotation of the hand lever 37 would impart a crank like movement to the pin 42, re-

'tained within pocket 2111, as shown. Small recesses as 38b are suitably disposed in the flanged portion mentioned, to receive the ball and thus retain member 38 and consequently clutch 35, in the desired position. I

Still referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the right hand or wringer end of shaft 34 projects beyond the bearing 21c into a housing portion 21d. The projecting portion of shaft 34 is splined to receive, in a slidable relation, an internally splined sleeve member 43 having a flanged portion 43a and a boss portion.43b. Retained upon the boss portion 43b and backed by flanged portion 43a is a compression spring 44 which rests between housing 210 and flange 43a to urge sleeve 43 toward engagement with a similarlysplined head member 44 which latter is aflixed to the shaft of wringer roll 45 by means of a pin, all as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 4. It will be obvious that the above described members assembled as shown form an effective clutch unit adapted to couple the driving shaft 34 with the driven wringer roll 45. Operation of the unit will be referred to again shortly.

Mention has already been made of a cam member 25 loosely retained upon boss portion 24a between clutch member 24 and ratchet 23, having an eccentrically located flanged ring or extension 25c.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be noted that a lower angular extension of a lever 47 rests against the periphery of the eccentric ring 250. The said lever 47 is pivotally supported by a pin 48 which latter is aflixed to the housing 21. The

upper end of the lever is so shaped as to form a yoke, the two arms of which, as 47b, in Fig. 7, are disposed to clear the flange 43a of sleeve 43. Botatably mounted upon suitable pins projectin: inwardly from the yoke arms are rollers 50 which are so disposed as to contact with the flange 43a as ShOWD-DESIZEI Fig. '7. It will be obvious that spring 44, urging sleeve member 43 against the rollers 50, will tend to urge the lower angular extension of lever 47 into contact with the eccentric ring 250, and that rotation of the member 25 will result in a rocking motion of lever 47. Due to the follow-up action of spring 44, the rocking motion of lever 47 will result in a sliding motion of sleeve 43 which motion will position sleeve 43 in or out of engagement with the splined head member 44.

Fig. 2 clearly shows the eccentric 25c positioned to retain sleeve 43 in disengaged position while Fig. 4 shows the eccentric as having been rotated one half turn with resulting movement of lever 47 to permit spring 44 to slide sleeve 43 into engagement with head member 44.

Manual control of the above described clutching devices is accomplished by the following means: I

Mounted adjacent the under side of disk portion 25b of the cam member 25 are two levers 48 and 49, of semicircularform, with approximately radially extending portions 480 and-48b 100 on lever 48, also 49a and 4912 on lever 49, projecting outwardly from their ends, as shownin Figs.

3, 5 and 6. Both levers are pivotally mounted .upon the disk portion 25b by means of a screw 51, lever 48 overlying lever 49, as shown.

The extension 49a of the underlying lever 49 is somewhat wider than extension 48a, as shown and has, at either side, upstanding extensions as 49d and 490 which are adapted to retain extension 48a in a loose manner. The extension 49b on the opposite end of lever 49 is provided with a similar upstanding extension 49c as shown. Lever'49 is tensioned by a spring 52 hooked to extension 4911 and attached to disk portion 250. by means of a screw all as clearly shown in Figs. 3,5 and 6. I

It will be noted that lever 48 carries, adjacent to extension 48a, an inwardly extending tooth portion 480 which is adapted, as shown, to engage ratchet 23.

Since extension 48a is loosely retained between extensions 49c and 49d of lever 49, it follows that spring 51 acting upon lever 49 and through ex-- a tension 490 will tend to urge tooth 480 into engagement with ratchet 23 as above noted. Fig. 6 clearly shows the several members in normally engaged relation. Assuming that at the time of engagement, ratchet 23 is in rotation in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 6, it is obvious that rotation will be imparted to the eccentric member 25 in unity with ratchet 23, which rotation will continue until either extension 49a or 49b meets an obstruction such as stop 55, when, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, rotation of levers 48 and 49, in unity as above noted, will be arrested. Continued rotation of the unit, with rotation of levers 48"and 49 arrested, will obviously result in rotation of the said levers upon screw-51 in such manner as to withdraw tooth 48c from engagement with ratchet 23 as 146 clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 5.

4 It may'be in order to mention here that use of the double lever arrangement as herein described is optional so far as eflicient operation of the device is concerned. It is quite obvious that the underlying lever 49 might be dispensed with, in which case spring 51 might be attached to lever 48. The function of the supplementary lever 49' is to permit a limited movement, due to recoil, on the part of lever 48, at the instant of 150 escapement from loaded condition. Use of the double lever arrangement, under practical working conditions, results in smoother operation of the parts.

Reference has already been made to a means for obstructing the rotation of levers 48 and 49, which has been designated as a stop 55. Figs. 3 and 5 illustrate a practicable form of such a means, wherein a lever member 55, with its extended portion disposed so as to be moved into or out of the path of extensions 49a and 49b is shown as abutting housing body 21 and affixed to a horizontal shaft 53. Shaft 53 is journaled in bearings formed in the housing body 21, as shown, one end extending through the housing and carrying a rigidly affixed hand lever 53a, as shown. A coil spring 54 surrounds the shaft 53 and. reacts between housing 21 and stop member 55, to urge the lever portion of said stop into an obstructive position with relation to extensions 48a and 49a, which position is indicated in solid lines in Fig. 2. The external appearance of hand lever 53a is indicated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 2, the obstructive position of stop member 55, as above noted, is shown in solid lines. It will be clear that slight rotation of hand lever 53a with similar rotation of stop member 55 will position stop 55 as shown in dotted lines, in which position it will be out of the path of obstruction to extensions 48a and 49a.

The foregoing description, together with the several drawings referred to will illustrate that with stop 55 in position shown in Fig. 2 and levers 48 and 49 positioned as in Fig. 3, a slight rotation of hand lever 53a, such as might be produced by a momentary light touch of the finger, will remove stop 55 from its obstructive position and allow spring 52 to urge tooth 48c into engagement with ratchet 23 by means already described. As already noted, manipulation of hand lever 53a need be only momentary. Such momentary removalof stop 55 would allow coupling to take place between tooth 48c and ratchet 23, as described, but would result, after escapement of extension 48b, in immediate return of stop 55 to an obstructive position. It is clear that in the present case, rotation of cam member 25 would con tinue until extension 48a was obstructed by stop 55 with resultant stoppage of rotation in the position shown in Fig. 5. Another momentary manipulation of hand lever 53a would result in another half revolution to bring exlension 48b again into contact with stop 55, and so on.

The action of eccentric ring 250, together with lever 47, sleeve 43, etc. has already been explained. Operation of the manual control means may be summarized as follows:

With eccentric 250 in position shown in Fig. 2, holding sleeve 43 in disengaged position through lever 4'7, a momentary manipulation of hand lever 53a will result in rotation of eccentric 250 through one half revolution or to a relative position shown in Fig. 4, wherein lever 47 has followed eccentric 250 to permit sleeve 43 to enter engagement with the splined head member 44. A further momentary operation of hand lever 53a would result in restoration of the several members to position shown in Fig. 2. Then it will be clear that the driving means may be alternately coupled or uncoupled with the wringer mechanism by consecutive finger touches applied to the hand lever 53a.

It is thought obvious that the manually operated control means may be arranged in many ways without departing from the general principle covered by this description.

For the purpose of illustration, a variation in structure is shown in Fig. 1, wherein the hand lever 53a is provided with an extension member 53b. An upright rod member 64 having a button like knob as 64a is slidably supported in bracket members 65 which latter are affixed to wringer end frame 61.

The rod 54 is disposed so as to rest upon the end of lever extension 53b, as shown, the spring 54 acting to support the weight of extension 53b and rod member 64. It will be apparent that a slight pressure downward upon the knob 64a will result in operation of lever 53a, as already described. The latter arrangement permits the control means to be located, upon the wringer where it may be conveniently reached by the operator. Obviously, a similar operating means may be provided on the opposite side of the wringer making the control means instantly available to the operator from either side.

As mentioned in connection with lever 530., a momentary finger touch is sufficient to engage or disengage the roller driving clutch, consequently a slight touch upon the knob 640. will result in immediate starting or stopping. of the wringer rolls.

It is thought that the foregoing description, together with the drawings referred to, will illustrate the structure and functions of the several parts and assemblies in sufficient detail to obviate the need for any but a summary description of operation, as follows:

With shafts 13, 22 and 28 rotating, clutch 35 in neutral position and clutch 43 in disengaged position, the operator rotates hand lever 37 to position clutch 35 in engagement with a gear 32 or 33 for desired directional rotation of the wringer roll.

When desired to start the wringer, the operator touches hand lever 53a or knob 64a as the case may be, when clutch 43 will be placed in engagement with head 44 of wringer roll 45, placing the wringer in operation.

In the course of an ordinary washing, it is possible that unexpected obstructions might appear in the garments being wrung, such as for instance,'large objects left in the pockets. If the obstruction is too large to be admitted by the rollers, jamming and possible injury to the mechanism or garment might result. In such a case, the frictional coupling between clutch memshaft 22 to continue rotation while the driven mechanism may remain stationary, thereby avoiding possible injury.

It will be noted that in such case driving shaft 22 continues in rotation, and it is upon this shaft bers 24 and 26 will give way allowing driving that the eccentric member 25 is mounted. Thus,

the wringer roll clutch mechanism is always operable and available for instant use, regardless of emergency conditions which might appear.

In the case of obstruction as above noted, the

operator has merely to touch the control means with the finger to declutch and stop the wringer.

Reversal of rotation of the rolls may be quickly accomplished by rotation of hand lever 37, as described.

As already stated, the wringer may be alternately started and stopped by successive slight touches upon the manual control means. Thus, the operation of the power driven wringer is always subject to instant control by the operator,

the simplicity of control permitting eflicient and safe operation by the most inexperienced person.

What I claim is:

l. The combination of a roll wringing mechanism, including upper and lower wringer rolls, means for driving the rolls of said mechanism including a horizontal drive shaft, a clutch on said shaft, power means for'operating the clutch to control the movement of the wringer rolls and a manually operated member for controlling the power operated clutch control means, said member being responsive to a comparatively slight pressure by the operator. i

2. The combination of a roll wringing mechanism for a washing machine adapted to be swung in a horizontal plane into a'plurality of operating positions, said wringer mechanism having upper and lower wringer rolls, means for driving said rolls including a horizontal drive shaft, a clutch on said shaft, means for driving the wringer rolls in each of its positions, power means for operating the clutch on the horizontal drive shaft to control the movement of the wringer rolls in each of its adjusted positions and a manually operated member for actuating the power operated means, said member being capable of operation by the operator when the latter is operating the wringer in each of its several positions and said member being responsive to a relatively slight pressure by the operator.

3. The combination of a roll wringing mechanism for a washing machine adapted to be swung about a vertical axis into a plurality of horizontal operating positions, said wringerhaving upper and lower wringer rolls, a means for driving the wringer rolls in each of its several positions including a horizontal drive shaft for the wringer rolls, a clutch on the shaft, power means.

of the wringer rolls, and a manually operated member for controlling the power operated clutch. control means, said member being accessible to the operator when the latter is operatingfthe wringer and being responsive to a comparatively slight pressure by the operator.

6. The combination of a roll wringin mechanism for a washing machine including upper and lower wringer rolls, means for driving the rolls of said mechanism including a vertically -disposed drive shaft, a horizontal drive shaft for the wringer rolls, a driving connection between said shafts, a power operated clutch on said horizontal shaft, power means foroperating said clutch mounted inoperative relationshp upon the ver- -tical drive shaft and being adapted to control the movement of the wringer rolls through a lever engagement with the before mentioned clutch on said shaft, and a manually operated member forcontrolling the power operated clutch control means, said member being accessible to the operator when the latter is operating the wringer and being responsive to a comparatively slight pressure by the operator.

,7. The combination of a roll wringing mecha-- nism having upper and lower wringer rolls, means for driving the rolls of said mechanism including a horizontal drive shaft, a gear driving connection for said shaft, a clutch on'said'shaft, power means for operating the clutch to control the movement of the wringer rolls and a manual ly operated member for controlling the power operated clutch control means, said member being responsive to a comparatively slight pressure by the operator.

8. The combination of a roll wringing mechanism including upper and lower wringer rolls,

for operating said clutch to control the movement for driving the r0118 o sa d mec an sm of the wringer rolls in each'of the positions of the wringer mechanism, and a manually operated member mounted on the wringer mechanism and. movable therewith for actuating the power operated means, said member being so mounted on the wringer mechanism as to be readily accessible to the operator when the latter is operating the wringer in each of the several positions of the wringer mechanism and said member being responsive to a relatively slight pressure by the operator.

4. The combination of a roll wringing mechanism for a washing machine, said wringing mechanism including upper and lower wringer rolls, means for driving the wringer rolls including a including a horizontal drive shaft, a gear driving connection for said shaft, means for breaking the connection between the gearing and wringer rolls, including power means controlling the movement of the wringer rolls, and a manually operated member for controlling the power operated means, said-memben being responsive to a comparatively slight pressure by the operator.

9. The combination ofa roll wringing mechanism for a washing machine, means for driving the rolls of said mechanism, a clutch in the driving mechanism, power means for operating the clutch to control the movement of the wringer rolls, a manually operated member for controlling the power operated clutch control means,

horizontal drive shaft, a support and driving said member being responsive to a comparatively means for the wringer mechanism mounted as a slight pressure by the operator, and a yielding unitary structure with the wringer mechanism coupling having ,fixed tractive strength disposed so that the wringing mechanism may be manually in the driving mechanism permitting operation removed by a vertical lift, a clutch on the horiof the power operated means when the rolls are zontal drive shaft, power means for operating stalledor overloaded. the clutch to control the movement of the wringer' 10. The combination of a roll wringing mecharolls and a manually operated member for acnism for a washing machine, means for driving tuating. the power operated means, said member the rolls of said mechanism, a clutch in the drivbeing accessible to the operator when the latter ing mechanism, power means 'for operating the is in wringer operating position and responsive clutch to control the movement of the wringer -toa relatively slight pressure by the operator. rolls, a manually operated member for control- 5. The combination of a roll wringing mechaling the power operated, clutch control means, nism for a washing machine including upper and said member being responsive toa comparatively lower wringer rolls, means for driving the rolls slight pressure by the. operator and a yielding of said mechanism including a vertically disposed coupling having fixed tractive strength disposed drive shaft, a horizontally disposed drive shaft between the wringer mechanism and the power for the wringer rolls,adriving connection between means for operating the clutch controlling the said shafts, means for reversing the direction of movement of the wringer rolls, said yielding coumovement of said horizontal shaft, a power operpling automatically permitting operation of said ated clutch on said horizontal shaft, power means power operated means when the rolls are stalled ALPHEUS W. AQ'I'VORFERK for operating said clutch to control the movement or overloaded. 

